gbdoc

I think we agree on this, after all. When I talk about "soft" or "hard", I'm generally thinking about a ball's compression, rather than the consistency of the cover. And compression's dependent on what's inside the cover - 2-piece, 3 or 4-piece, wound (remember "wound"?), and what these are made of. Of course a lot of things about the cover make a big difference, too (balata?), but that generally has less to do with distance (on good hits). As for shafts, I guess I was thinking more about people like me, older, 12+ hcp, who can't (any more, maybe never could) generate whiz-bang clubhead speed. But sure, anyone who CAN swing it really fast WILL swing it really fast, and will be best off with a stiff(er) shaft, regardless of age or hcp. Those who can't are better served if they faced that reality, and stopped trying to play the clubs and balls the young, strong pros are using. For me, senior graphite shafts (and no more Miura blades, much as I loved them once upon a time) and softer balls have been a big benefit, and keep me smiling on the course more often.

MimiBlueDragon, I’m certainly no technical expert, but I can’t quite agree with your disagreements. Surely, you can hardly be arguing that 1. balls don't vary with regard to compression - some lower, some higher; or 2. there’s no difference between stiff shafts and more flexible ones, senior, or ladies’, for instance. Nor can I believe you think swing speed has no bearing on choice of this equipment. C’mon. Aside from manufacturer’s published specs and other reports, my own experience, however unscientific, is hardly meaningless. Shafts: when I hit woods and long irons today with a stiff shaft, it’s like swinging a 2x4, and balls go nowhere. When I was 40-50 years younger and tried senior flex (I then played stiff), I had to slow everything down, really wait for the clubhead to come through, and everything was spongy and shorter. Balls: ProV1x’s, a very good high-compression ball, feel to me on full swings like hitting a heavy rock, even though their cover makes them fine for putts and touchy-feely shots around the green. Sure, the cover contributes a great deal to “sound-feel”, and perhaps to ball roll off putts, but what’s underneath that plays a far larger role to overall ball compression. Take a look at this other thread: < http://thesandtrap.com/t/70556/what-golf-ball-goes-the-furthest-really > All that notwithstanding, I suspect that scientific data plays a far smaller role in these things than personal taste, preference, and expectations – especially for not-scratch golfers. A lot of things in life are like that.

Thanks, Joe, I've been doing something like you: usually 4W, 5i, 9i (RocketBladez have strong lofts), 49 deg PW, putter, and it's not bad. If other answers don't rave, I won't be too unhappy sticking to this. But, though "forgiving", like the RB's, is better for me, it's not that important, since I'd been playing pretty well with Miura blades for years. BTW, but not entirely OT: I sometimes go out with only a 6i. Interesting golf, greatly sharpens my shot-making, and the use of my imagination and inventiveness!

(No laughter, please ) Anybody have any experience with adjustable clubs – I’m looking at the “Walking Sticks“ – 3 adjustable clubs to replace everything 3 thru wedge. I know they’re not regulation, and I don’t expect them to be anywhere like my RocketBladez , but can you play even remotely satisfying golf with them? I got a 1-club “adjustable” about 40 years ago, but it’s no good at all – never was. But even at 73, I still want to at least walk around hitting a ball even when it's cold, but less than a full bag, which I can carry, would be nice - providing it's not too frustrating. The "Walking Sticks" might do the trick, but they're too expensive to buy 'em, try 'em, put 'em in the attic forever. Thanx

I haven't seen any posts mentioning swing speed, yet that seems to be a pretty fundamental - perhaps the major - criterion in choice of ball, as it is in choice of shaft flex, for similar reasons. Basically, the fastest swings do best with the hardest balls; the slower the swing, the softer the ball should be. This is based on the amount of power it takes to compress the ball optimally, since DEcompression adds to ball speed off the club, resulting in distance. No compression, no decompression - just plain physics. BTW, another factor's temperature, which also affects compression/resiliency: the colder the day, the softer the ball should be. I'm 73, and my HCP's up to 17; I was never great, but not so many years ago I was still playing 12-14. But now, I don't have anywhere near the swing speed I used to have. I used to play Titleist V1's (the V1x was always too hard) or similar (and used R steel shafts). A few years ago, when my game was deteriorating, a pro suggested Senior graphite shafts and softer balls. First, I switched shafts, with pleasing results. Then, with those shafts, I compared the V1's to the softer balls, and the latter felt and were markedly better - incidentally, control (I've been battling a slice since I was a pup, but usually have it pretty much under control, until I get tired and lose concentration) is usually better, too. Now, I like Bridgestone's B330-RX and RXS best. But their e6, and the DT Solo, aren't far behind, and are a lot cheaper. And, BTW, good ladies's balls are pretty good, too. The brands differ, IMO, primarily with regard to hook/slice control, and stopping, on approach shots, and my experience is that Bridgestone's best for me. Altogether, my opinion is that most of us who aren't single-handicappers - and that's probably most of us - can't use balls like the V1x effectively, any more than we can use stiff shafts, and probably would do best with balls even softer than the V1.